Gwen vs Irelia

Gwen
vs
47.5%

over 326 games

Irelia

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageSplit pushSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Irelia

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Gwen: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Plated Steelcaps, Riftmaker, Nashor's Tooth, Zhonya's Hourglass, Dark Seal.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Dusk and Dawn
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Riftmaker
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot62%
FlashTeleport10%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Riftmaker
Nashor's Tooth
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
Void Staff
Oblivion Orb
Seeker's Armguard
Lich Bane
Bramble Vest
Malignance
Morellonomicon
Thornmail
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Cosmic Drive
Bloodletter's Curse
56.3% WR71 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Irelia's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Ionian Fervor (P)

When Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s20s16s–
68s20s16s2m05
96s18s16s2m05
116s16s16s1m45
166s12s13s1m25
186s12s10s1m25

Playing as Gwen

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Land 4 autos before your Q

    Land 4 autos before Snip Snip! (Q): each auto adds a snip, on top of the first and the last.

  2. Hit with the center of your Q

    Land the center of Snip Snip! (Q): in the center, part of the damage becomes true damage and each snip applies A Thousand Cuts (passive).

  3. Mist against poke

    Place Hallowed Mist (W) against poke and ranged CC: enemies outside the mist can't target you, except towers.

  4. Use all three casts of your R

    Cast all three Needlework (R) activations within 6 seconds: the first throws one needle, then three, then five, with growing damage.

Playing against Irelia

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay away from low-health minions

    Don't stand near your low-health minions: Bladesurge (Q) resets when it kills, so she chains dashes from minion to minion until she reaches you.

  2. Dodge the line of her blades

    As soon as the first blade of Flawless Duet (E) lands, change direction: the stun only hits enemies caught between the two blades.

  3. Trade before her passive stacks

    Take your trades when Ionian Fervor (passive) isn't stacked: she builds stacks with her abilities, and at max stacks her autos deal more damage.

  4. Wait out her Defiant Dance

    Save your burst for after Defiant Dance (W): while charging, she takes much less damage, but she can't do anything else.

  5. Dodge her blade ult

    Dodge Vanguard's Edge (R): its blades make you Unsteady, which resets Bladesurge (Q) on you, and the cage they form damages and slows anyone who crosses it.

Patch 16.21.1